Page 160 of Scrimmage

“Are you coming on the date?” I sigh, standing up and grabbing my wallet.

“Not exactly." He flashes me a goofy grin. “We’d better go. At this rate we’ll be late.”

“I’m always late.”

“Yeah, but Koda expects you to be late. That won’t make him mad. I was supposed to be here early, that way it made you think it was late, and then we would be on time.”

I smirk and shake my head. “So what are we doing?”

“Can’t tell ya that.” He tosses the keys up into the air and catches them. He nods and leads the way out of the house. When we reach his car he puts on some shitty music, and I stare out of the window. Despite how it always ends up, I don’t really like being a passenger. Well, I like riding with Koda, but that’s as far as the list goes. Penny is a horrible driver.

Alexi pulls me from my thoughts. “Are you good with guns?” he asks, nonchalant.

“Huh?”

I feel fear rush into my veins. It’s not that I hate guns. Not exactly. I grew up around them and spent my life with them, but now I can only think of Damien. Because of him, I’ve chosen to steer clear of them and let everyone around me handle it instead.

“Shit. I’m sorry. I mean paintball type of stuff.”

“Paintball?”

“Uh,” he seems uncomfortable. “Have you ever played paintball?”

“No,” I dismiss him. This is a weird conversation.

He mutters something to himself. “Are you…uh…Koda has me taking you to play paintball with us and the team.”

I smirk to myself. “Does he now?”

“Yeah, but if you aren’t into that I’ll take you home and say you didn’t answer the door or something.” He gives me a sheepish smile.

“Don’t stress, Lex. I’m great at shooting. Paintball can’t be any different.” In fact, I learned from the best.

“Good, cause you’re on my team,” he says excitedly. “Koda is on the other team.”

I sit up, suddenly engrossed as we pull into a parking lot. “Is he?”

“Yeah. I mean, I told him it was weird for a date, but you two are weird. Is this foreplay or something?”

“Do you really wanna know?” I smile.

“No." He shakes his head, laughing. “The other guys are worried. They think you won’t shoot him, but I know you will.”

“Oh, I won’t miss.”

My door opens and Koda stands there, holding his hand out to me. He’s decked out in full paintball gear.

“You’re late,” he growls at Alexi.

“I was talking to Penny,” I ignore his hand and get out of the car.

He slams the door behind me and keeps glaring at Alexi. “Are you okay with playing paintball with the team?”

“Isn’t that something you should've asked me when you planned this?”

Those coal eyes finally drag themselves to me, taking me in. His jaw tightens. “I know you want to shoot me, Ash. It’s the only reason I let Alexi put you on his team.”

I stick my hand out. “May the best player win.”

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